Romtec Utilities was selected to design and supply an industrial expansion stormwater pump station at the U.S. Headquarters for Mars in Hackettstown, New Jersey.

Effective stormwater management is a crucial element of infrastructure, particularly for businesses operating in regions prone to heavy rainfall and flooding. Mars, Inc., a global leader in chocolate, chewing gum, mints, and fruity confections, recognized the importance of improving its stormwater management system as the company got ready to transition its U.S. headquarters to New Jersey and expand its offices in Hackettstown.

Romtec Utilities was contacted about the specific needs and requirements for the lift station by Nordic Contracting Company, Inc. on behalf of U.P. Engineers and Architects Inc and Mars, Inc.

A stormwater lift station is a critical infrastructure component designed to manage excess stormwater. Its primary function is to pump stormwater from low-lying areas to higher elevation areas or drainage systems, ensuring proper flow and preventing flooding.

For expanding businesses like Mars, Inc., where operations involve large facilities with extensive parking lots, roads, and industrial areas, managing stormwater effectively is vital to preventing water accumulation that could damage infrastructure, disrupt operations, and create environmental hazards.

Romtec designed the industrial expansion stormwater pump station to meet the specific needs of Mars, Inc, including a wet well with an inner diameter of 4-foot and depth of 6.73 foot. This lift station is a simple system with a single Goulds 1/3 horsepower pump, NOLTA floats that monitor level and dry contacts available for monitoring select signals.

Nordic Contracting Company, Inc. installed the lift station, which was supplied by Romtec Utilities, but, as part of Romtec’s lift station package, our start-up experts flew to New Jersey to oversee the startup and commissioning of the system. Romtec experts were present to ensure a successful start-up.

Mars Wrigley U.S. will continue to have its global headquarters in Chicago, while its U.S. headquarters moves to Hackettstown, New Jersey. Opening the new headquarters, as well as a new location in nearby Newark, allowed the company to get back to its New Jersey roots. More than 75 years ago Mars opened its doors in Newark when M&M’S candies were first created in 1941 as military rations during World War II, according to a December 2017 press release. In 1958, the company first expanded into Hackettstown, to accommodate growth.

“Mars is proud to have a strong legacy and future across both New Jersey and Illinois. Expanding in New Jersey will enable the continued growth of our U.S. business. We are fully committed to working with all of our Associates to support them through this transition,” said Berta de Pablos Barbier, President, Mars Wrigley U.S.

Hackettstown, New Jersey, is located in a valley along the banks of the Musconetcong River, in Warren County. The town is home to around 10,000 people and was named one the top 100 towns in the United States to live and work in by Money Magazine in 2005.

As Hackettstown will be the new U.S. headquarters, the business is investing more than $70 million to continue its legacy of innovation and manufacturing, according to a press release in March 2024. The expansion of existing offices brought to light the need for a stormwater lift station to safely collect stormwater from the facility, to be sent off for treatment.

Romtec Utilities is known for its expertise in designing and installing customized utility systems, including stormwater pump stations. When Mars, Inc. needed a reliable, high-performance solution for managing stormwater at its New Jersey facility, Romtec was the perfect partner. The project required a stormwater lift station capable of handling the specific demands of the local geography while also integrating seamlessly with the existing infrastructure.

Romtec Utilities was able to provide the design and engineering for a industrial expansion stormwater pump station, supply the lift station as a package to the installer, manufacture the system and be available as an on-site construction adviser as well as manage the one-site start-up of the newly installed system.

Our experts are dedicated to delivering a successful pump station to our customers. The successful start-up of this stormwater lift station will allow Mars to continue its expansion and focus on creating more products that we have all come to know and love.